Printing mechanism for tabulators



Feb. 13, 1934. A. E. GRAY PRINTING MECHANISM FOR TABULATORS Filed April 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG] w i w u I FR F L rum in. TIME Ii, m m \m n 1 U I I O O Z3456089 2 O 23456789 O 0 23G56789 G 0 Z345o783 Co -23456788 F O0 03456789 0 234567 9 O Z3456789 9| "0 23456789 IN ENTOR- d4, 3 L

, ATTORNEY- Feb. 13, 1934. A. E. GRAY 1,947,259

PRINTING MECHANISM FOR .TABULATORS Filed April 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,l l """m HIII IIII ml E ATTORNEY- Feb. 13, 1934. A. E. GRAY 1,947,259

PRINTING MECHANISM FOR TABULATORS Filed April 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS.

5 TOR- 'ATTORNEY- Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mcsne assignments, to Machines Corporation, poration of New York International Business New York, N. Y., a cor- Application April 23, 1932. SerialNo. 607,145

12 Claims.

This invention relates to record card controlled machines and more particularly to the printing mechanism of such a machine in which alphabetical printing is desired.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved form of printing mechanism which may be called upon when occasion requires to print either numerals or alphabetical characters.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved means whereby group selection and type selection occur during a single card feeding cycle and under control of a common analyzing means.

A still further object is to provide a type bar mechanism in which the type elements remain in normal restored position until they are called into operation by the card analyzing mechanism for printing action.

In carrying out the present invention, the preferred means comprises a type carrying member provided with a plurality of groups of type. A second member, movable in synchronism with the movement of the record cards through the machine, is adapted to be coupled to the type carrying member at a time corresponding to the location of a perforation in the card. This action will advance a particular group of type toward printing position. A second perforation in the same card column causes interruption ,of the movement of both members so that one of the type in the selected group stands in position to print Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also-constitutes certain new and novel features" of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view through the printing mechanism illustrating a single embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a representation of part of a regular Hollerith card, illustrated as punched for selecting either numerals or letters by means of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a position viewof parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the printing mechanism operating cams.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of the machine to which the present improvements are applied.

Referring to Fig. 4, drive shaft 25 driven by the (Cl. Mil-93) tabulating motor TM (Fig. 5) carries a pair of complementary cams 26 which oscillates a member 27, loosely mounted on a pivot 28. An arm 29, also pivoted at 28 is adjustably connected to member 27, as at 30, so that the arm 29 is oscillated to with member 27. A link 31 connects arm 29 to an arm 32 secured to shaft 33. Shaft 33 carries an arm 34 the free end of which is attached by a link 35 to a reciprocating crosshead 36 (see also Fig. 1).

Crosshead 36 is guided in its up and down movement by stationary guide posts 37 and carries group selector bars 38 therewith. Bars 38 are supported on cross members 39 integral with crosshead 36 and are held in their upper position as in Fig. l by springs 40. Each bar 38 (see Fig.

3) is provided with teeth 41 corresponding in number and arrangement to the twelve index point positions on the record card (Fig. 2). The upward movement of crosshead 36 and bars 38 is synchronous with the movement of the perforated cards through the machine so that as the index point positions 9, 8, 7, 6, etc., successively pass the analyzing brushes the corresponding teeth 41 of bar 38, successively and in the same order, pass the nose of a pawl 42 carried by type bar 43. The configuration of cams 26 is such that crosshead 36 slows down near the end of its upward movement so that the more closely spaced teeth 0, 1-1, and 12 pass pawl 42 as the correspending index point positions of the card are analyzed.

Pawl 42 is held in position as in Fig. 1 by a. latch 44 which is connected through a link 45 to an armature 49 which is held against stop 47 by spring 48. When a perforation is encountered by a brush in the tabulator, the magnet 46 is energized, as will hereinafter be set forth and latch 44 rocked in a clockwise direction about its pivot to release pawl 42' permitting the pawl to engage the tooth 41 of bar 38 corresponding to the perforation position with which the brush cooperated to energize magnet 46.

In this manner type bar 43 is coupled to crosshead 36 and is moved upwardly thereby to present the type 50 corresponding to the tooth 41 engaged by pawl 42 to the printing line of the platen 51. The selected type 50 reaches printing position at the end of the upward stroke of crosshead 36. Any suitable means may be provided for impelling the selected type against the platen 51 to perform the printing function and may constitute hammer 52 which impacts the type element 50. Since the hammer details form no part of the present invention they are not shown or described in detail.

In the manner just described any numeral or other character represented by a single index point perforation in a card column may be selected for printing, the particular one selected depending upon the position of the index point in the card column. It is desirable at times to print letters to form words, abbreviations or the'like and to this end type bar 43 carries additional type 50 located between the several numeral type which are indicated in Fig. 1. These alphabetical type are selected for printing under control of columns of the record card which have combination or double punching therein. A second perforation in the 0, 11 or 12 index point position will cause selection of either of the three types immediately above the type associated with the first perforation in the column. Specifically, a column of a record in which there are perforations in say, the 9, and 12 index point positions will cause selection of the type immediately above the 9 type and a column in which there are perforations in the 9 and 11 index point positions will cause selection of the second type above the 9 typ This further selection of the other three type positions of the group of four associated with the numbers 2-9 is efiected by means of a magnet 53 (Figs. 1 and 3) of which there is one for each column of type. As will be pointed out in connection with the circuit diagram, magnet 53 is adapted to be energized under control of the record card and in response to the analysis of a perforation in either the 0, 11 or 12 index point positions.

Energization of magnet 53 will attract its armature 54 and draw a call wire 55 to the right to rock a latch 56. Such rocking will release pawl 57 permitting it to engage one of the teeth 58 of type bar 43 and interrupt further upward movement of the type bar. Such energization of magnet 53 will occur near the end of the upstroke of crosshead 36 and if bar 43 is coupled to bar 38, the latter will also be held against further upward movement. Spring 40 will accordingly yield as crosshead 36 continues to the end of its stroke unaccompanied by bar 38.

The operations involved in selecting an alphabetical character for printing may best be understood by tracing a particular example. Assume a character identified by perforations in the 8 and 11 index point positions of a card column. As this column traverses the analyzing brushes, crosshead 36 is rising synchronously therewith. At 8, magnet 46 is energized, coupling type bar 43 to bar 38, the two being coupled in the.

relationship shown in Fig. 3 with pawl 42 engaging the 8 tooth 41. Crosshead 36 continues its up-stroke as the card continues to traverse the brushes. At 11 magnet 53 is energized causing interception of type bar 43 and with it bar 38, stopping the same two steps or type positions before the 8 type reaches the printing line. Had magnet 53 been energized at 12 the type bar would be stopped one step before the 8" type position and if the magnet 53 were not energized at all, type bar 43 would advance to the limit of the stroke of crosshead 36 to present the 8 type to the printing line.

After printing has taken place, pawls 57 and latches 56 may be restored. A shaft 60 is driven from main shaft 25 by suitable gearing (not shown) and carries a crank arm 61 whose pin 62 engages and rocks an arm 63 pivoted at 64. A shaft 65 is thereby rocked in a clockwise direction through link 66. A bail 67 secured to shaft ea-ages 65 will engage and restore latches 56. A second bail 68 is connected by link 69 and arm 70 to shaft 65 and serves to restore pawls 57 the timing being such that pawls 57 are restored before latches 56.

This restoration of pawls 5'7 takes place as the type bars begin their downward or restoring may also follow under the influence of their own weight. Before crosshead 36 begins its descent, a cam 71 carried by shaft 60 will rock a follower arm 72 about its pivot and, through linkage generally designated 73, rock an arm 74 to raise a link 75. The lower extremity of link 75 is connected to an arm of a bail 76 and will rock the latter counterclockwise to positively insure the rocking of latches 44 into the paths of pawls 42. Toward the end of the downward stroke of crosshead 36 an angular member 77 thereon will engage extensions 78 of type bars 43 to positively bring the bars to home positionwherein pawls 42 are engaged by latches 44 and rocked out of cooperation with bars 38. Bail 76 is then retracted and the mechanism is in readiness for further print selecting operations.

, The circuit diagram illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar to that disclosed in the patent to Daly and Page No. 1,762,145, issued June 10, 1930, the circuits being altered to include the new mechanism to realize the present advantages.

A card column controlling numeral printing does not contain the perforations 0, 11 or 12 and has only the usual index point perforation for differentially selecting :a particular numeral type. These perforations are sensed by the lower brushes LB. The machine circuits are, as usual, energized from a source of energy indicated at S connected to line wires 80 and 81 by a double pole switch 82. As the card passes the lower brushes LB the perforations therein close the counter magnet circuits traced as follows for one column: from the left side of 'line 80, wire 83, contacts 84, counter magnet 85, plug connection 86, brush LB, common bar 87, wire 88 to the right side of contacts T2, T3 and, when the first card is being listed, through contacts T4 and T5 by wire 89 to binder post 11;

If a tabulating operation is being performed on a card other than the first card of a group, the current instead of passing through T4, T5 will pass through T2, T3, wire 90, brush 91, segment 92, commutator 93, brush 94, wire 89, to binder post 11.

After the machine has operated a certain amount, contacts T1 close, extending the circuit just described from binder post 11 through upper and lower card lever contacts UCL and LCL, closed contacts Tl, binder post 9, closed contacts P3 to the other side of line 81.

The energization of counter magnet sets up a supplementary circuit as follows: from the left side of line 80, contacts 95, printer magnet 46, common bar 96, wire 97, to non-list switch 98 closed when listing is desired. When this switch is closed, during the first card cycle, and with the commutator circuit 93, 94 and brush 99 closed during the same card cycle, current would be applied from binder post 11 to common bar 96 through wire 100, contacts LPl, now closed, and through switch 98. In this way printer magnets 46 are provided with a return path for the ourrent which, as will be understood; is a secondary circuit which has been completed by the energization of the counter magnets from the brushes and the subsequent closing of contacts 95.

A number of, magnets 46 are dissociated from the counter circuits and controlled independently, directly from brushes LB through the following circuits: left side of line 80, wire 101, commutator 102 which connects brushes 103 and 104 during listing, magnets 46, plug connections 105, lower brush sockets 106, brushes LB, common bar 87 and back to line 81 as before.

It will be understood that if no other perforations appear in a card column aside from the usual perforation in one of the nine designated points, the numeral type on the type bar will be controlled differentially; the particular type selected depending upon the differential time that magnet 46 is energized. 1

The upper set of magnets 53 is connected to line 80 through a wire 107 and commutator 108 and to brushes 109 of commutators 110 by wires 111. A second brush 112 may be connected to the sockets 106 of the lower brushes LB by means of suitable plug connections 113. Commutators 110 are carried by drive shaft 25 and are arranged to electrically connect brushes 109 and 112 during the transit of index point position 0, l1 and 12 past the lower brushes LB and to open such connection at other times. In this manner in any column in which socket 106 is plug connected to a magnet 46 and also to the corresponding magnet 53, the former will receive all impulses through perforations in all index point positions, and the latter will receive impulses through the 0, 11 and 12 positions only. It will be observed that in those columns in which only numerical listing is desired it is only necessary to connect magnets 46. In the columns in which alphabetical listing is desired both magnets 46 and 53 are plug connected. Although a complete single printing section has been described it will be understood that as many sections as desired may be placed side by side to print words or sentences in one printing operation.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes'in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the followingclaims:

I claim:

1. In an accounting machine comprising in combination, a movable printing bar carrying a plurality of type, means for moving said bar, card analyzing means, means controlled by said analyzing means in response to the analysis of a perforation in an index point position for causing said bar to move with said moving means and further means for subsequently causing relative movement between said bar and said moving means.

2. In an accounting machine comprising in combination, a movable printing bar carrying a plurality of type, means for moving said bar, card analyzing means, means controlled by said analyzing means in response to the analysis of a perforation in an index point position for causing said bar to move with said moving means and further means controlled by said analyzing means for controlling the. extent of movement of said bar.

3. In a printing machine, in combination, card analyzing means, a type bar having a plurality of type thereon, a movable driving element, means controlled by said analyzing means for coupling said bar to said element for movement thereby and further means controlled by said analyzing means for causing relative movement between said bar and element.

4. In a machine of the class described, a printing element movable to a plurality of printing positions, a driving element for the same having an invariable movement, latching means for coupling the printing element to the driving element, electromagnetic means controlled by differentially timed electrical impulses for controlling the latch ng means to effect coupling at variable times and further electromagnetic means controlled by differentially timed electrical impulses for causing relative movement between said printing element and said driving element subsequent to the operation of said latching means.

5. In a machine of the class described, analyzing means for successively searching index point positions in a column of a record card, a printing element movable to a plurality of printing positions, a driving element for the same having an invariable movement, latching means controlled by said analyzing means upon analysis of a perforation in one of said index point positions for coupling the printing element to the driving element and means controlled by said analyzing means upon analysis of a perforation in a subsequently analyzed index point position for interrupting further movement of said printing element.

6. In a machine of the class described, a single analyzing element adapted to successively search the index point positions of a column of a record card, a printing mechanism having a plurality of type arranged in groups, mechanism for selecting a group of type, mechanism for selecting an individual type within a group and means for causing said analyzing element to alternately control the operation of said group and individual type selecting mechanisms.

7. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a movable printing bar carrying a-plurality of groups of type common to a card column having index points, means whereby each index point in a column controls the selection of a difierent group of type and additional controlling means whereby certain index points control the selection of a particular type in a group.

8. A machine of the class described including an analyzing station for successively analyzing the perforations of a'combinational hole record, a movable type bar having a plurality of groups of type thereon, means controlled by said analyzing station in response to the analysis of a perforation for selecting one of said groups of type for printing and further means controlled by said analyzing station upon subsequent analysis of a further perforation for selecting a particular type in said selected group.

9. In a cyclically operated printing mechanism, record analyzing means adapted to successively analyze a plurality of perforations in a record column during a single cycle of operation of said mechanism, a printing element carrying a plurality of groups of type and means controlled by said analyzing means for successively selecting one of said groups and a particular type in said group during a single cycle of said mechanism.

10. In a printing machine comprising in combination with a printing element carrying a plurality of groups of type; a printing platen cooperating therewith, a record analyzing element adapted to control the differential adjustment of said printing element to select a particular group of type and means subsequently controlled by said analyzing element for selecting a particular type in said selected group as the pre-selected group advances toward the printing platen.

11. In a machine of the class described, a card analyzing element adapted to analyze index points of a record card, a printing element having numerical and alphabetical type thereon, a magnet controlled by said analyzing element for ALVIN E. GRAY. 

